News

(Cork Release)

Reducing the congestion caused by bottlenecks in Cork would boost business and trade, according to a new report launched today by InterTradeIreland and the IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council.

The Freight Transport Report for the Island of Ireland outlines suggestions to improve bottlenecks at access routes to the road system around the Jack Lynch Tunnel and Ringaskiddy to benefit the economy on both sides of the border.

Ireland’s roads will become much busier over the next decade due to rapid population growth, high levels of construction activity and continued economic expansion, says the report, which makes 21 recommendations to relieve congestion, including:

•Improving bottlenecks at access routes to ports Rosslare (port access road and complete the N25), Drogheda (Northern and Southern Relief roads) and Cork (road system around the Jack Lynch Tunnel and Ringaskiddy)

•Updating out-of-date and inaccurate forecasting tools to take account of population growth projections (recent official projections in Ireland present a 26% increase in the 14-year period 2006 to 2020.)

•Increasing port capacity (port capacity is stretched and planning permission affecting their expansion needs to be progressed rapidly, particularly the development of Bremore new port, the Lo-Lo expansion in Dublin port and the Cork Lo-Lo Terminal in Ringaskiddy.

•Constructing an Eastern port access route to avoid the need for lorries from the South and South West to circle Dublin on the congested M50

•Giving the go ahead for the proposed Leinster Outer Orbital route (Drogheda - Navan-Naas), to relieve pressure on the M50

•Co-operating North-South and East-West to regulate and support the freight industry

•Involving hauliers in transport planning

InterTradeIreland Board member, local businessman Ray Doherty, said: “The port at Cork is getting busier all the time, so anything that can be done to move freight quickly and efficiently over those last couple of miles will not only ease congestion on access roads, but boost trade and business as well.

“Like many Irish ports, Cork depends on swift transit across the GB land-bridge to remain competitive - nationally, around 100,000 vehicles every year travel in each direction – and feedback from businesses is indicating that congestion and poor access to ports are imposing additional costs.”

InterTradeIreland chairman Dr David Dobbin CBE said: “The ability to move people and goods rapidly from destination to destination is crucial to encourage economic growth across the island.

“A world class infrastructure is a key driver of competitiveness – on its own, it will not make companies competitive but without it their competitive position will be undermined.

“Our recommendations cover the complete cycle of goods movements with the emphasis on integrating the ports with the roads network, minimising the impact of congestion, and supporting the freight industry through joint regulation where appropriate.”

The Freight Study reveals that the rate of growth in both car and HGV traffic on Irish roads and the ports is running at a rate close to double that assumed in the various forecasts that are currently being used by government to plan infrastructure investments in Ireland.

In the previous decade, containerised traffic going through the island’s ports increased by 125% and Ro-Ro by 70% - and this is expected to grow to service a population of 7.2 million on the Island by 2020.

It shows that by 2006 almost two thirds of all tonnes lifted in Ireland were of construction materials for new dwellings, commercial buildings and transport infrastructure projects.

The Report also recommends co-operation with England, Scotland and Wales to prioritise reliable links to GB ports, the standardisation of taxes, speed limits and regulations, and proactive involvement in European transport funding programmes.